GET THE SHOT

GET THE SHINGLES SHOT      
GET THE SHINGLES SHOT

This is my oldest granddaughter after a long hard day at Gramma Mimi's Second Annual Cousin Camp last year.  I chose it because it pretty much expresses my mood right now. 

I have shingles. I thought I had to wait until 60 to get the shot (which will be September).  Even my doctor told me that. After someone I knew got shingles, I even thought about just paying for it myself. I was told it was $500. That is not true either. Our insurance will reimburse at AGE 50. My 58 year old husband ran to get the shot as soon as he saw what I was going through and paid $243 which will be reimbursed by our insurance company. I understand with certain chronic health issues can get the shot early too. 

I cannot explain the pain and agony of this goofy disease. I am on medications, one of them for pain, and last night I would have graded my pain level was a 9 on a scale of 10.  My daughter told me to quit being a hero and go to the ER for a shot. Right now my next pill is 4 hours and 7 minutes away and I am at about a 6.  Today is going better since my doctor tripled my pain meds. I slept for over 2 hours this afternoon (the first time for a nice deep sleep in four days, only to be awoken by a telephone. The rash is on my left side and is located from my waist to my knee. New patches are appearing daily. It affects the nerves so I have constant internal pain in my leg from my heel to my hip (my sciatic nerve). 

I could write forever about how painful this disease, but I also feel guilty because I know others are suffering without the fantastic support system that I have. I am the family caregiver for my own family and extended family and my dear husband stepped in the role with so much caring and compassion. I just love him so much. My children are all helping with moral support and my oldest daughter even drove from 2 hours away to drop off meals from herself and her mother in law. Whatever help I could possibly need is in place and I know I am so much more fortunate than others. 

I am angry because I cannot be around infants under the age of 1 (and I have two newborn grandchildren), pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.  

I am angry because I had to miss our city's celebration with musicians in all the store fronts because I can't be around people. I am angry because I had to miss a monthly lunch with a group of old friends, I am angry because I had to miss a niece's graduation, I am angry because I can't attend church tomorrow (and this is just this weekend).  I am angry because I cannot swim until all traces of the shingles are gone and it could take weeks. And my daughter just bought a house with a pool. 

All this could have been avoided it if I had just gotten the shot. 

GET THE SHINGLES SHOT

GET THE SHINGLE SHOT

GET THE SHINGLE SHOT